The questionnaire from Ringsted et al. (RQ) assesses the consequences on daily activities of a post–thoracotomy pain syndrome. Our study aimed at translating the RQ into French and to validate its metrological properties.

Four months after thoracotomy, 134 patients participating in a prospective comparative study of two surgical thoracotomy approaches (axillary and posterolateral) scored the translated questionnaire. The sensitivity of this version was assessed by comparing scores from patients complaining of pain to that of non-complainers. Concurrent validity was assessed using ratings from direct questions on pain, mood, anxiety and enjoyment of life. Homogeneity was assessed with Crombach's coefficient and dimensionality with PCA.

A scoring system was devised to homogenise pain-related impairment with activities that were never performed before surgery and activities that had to be abandoned due to pain. The French version is bi-dimensional: routine activities (carrying heavy loads, raising the arms above the head, housework, getting out of bed, car driving, lying on the operated side, coughing, sitting for half an hour) are opposed to running, walking 1 km, climbing stairs, bending knees, standing for half an hour, swimming and cycling; both these factors contribute independently to the global score. Global and factor scores are sensitive to presence of pain while direct questions account for 20 to 50 % of the information provided by the questionnaire.

The French version of the RQ is suitable to assess chronic repercussions of lung surgery on the ability of patients to perform their daily activities.